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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for March 2013

SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2013

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

OLYMPIA -- Leeman Able, a member of the Shoshone Paiute tribe, stands at the Washington State Vietnam Memorial Friday during a ceremony marking "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day", which is Saturday under a law recently passed and signed by the governor. (Jim Camden)

Honoring Vietnam vets 

Leeman Able, a member of the Shoshone Paiute tribe, stands at the Washington Vietnam Memorial Friday during a ceremony to welcome home Vietnam veterans. OLYMPIA -- Saturday is officially "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" under a bill passed by the Legislature and signed Friday by…

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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013

State gets B- on budget transparency

OLYMPIA – Washington gets a good grade for showing its residents how the state spends their money, but probably deserves lower marks for letting them see how those spending decisions are made, government watchdog groups said Wednesday on the eve of the next big milestone…

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High-skilled jobs go begging

OLYMPIA – Although the state’s unemployment numbers may be slowly declining, the number of open jobs for skilled workers is rising and could double in the next five years, a business group said Wednesday. A new study by an international consulting firm estimates the state’s…

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WA Lege Day 73: Budget transparency

OLYMPIA -- Legislative committees have a fairly full day of hearings today, on topics large and small, ranging from legislation on spaying pets to a work session on the Washington State University global campus. The Legislature will also get a grade on transparency in how…

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FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013

OLYMPIA -- A cadet honor guard carries the state flag to the Senate rostrum prior at the start of a memorial service for former Gov. Booth Gardner. (Jim Camden)

Legislature honors Booth Gardner 

Cadet honor guard carries the state flag to the Senate rostrum during joint session to honor Gardner. OLYMPIA – With his family in the gallery and flags outside lowered to half-staff, Booth Gardner was eulogized Friday in the Senate chamber where he once served, as…

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THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Today's fun video: Obama fills in his bracket 

In what has become an annual ritual, President Obama filled out his NCAA Tournament Bracket for ESPN earlier this week. (Spoiler alert: He says nice things about Gonzaga, but doesn't pick them to win it all.) Which prompted the second annual ritual of Republicans complaining…

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Labrador: Don't just pass Ryan budget

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, emphasized substance over style in the upcoming budget and immigration policy talks Wednesday on Capitol Hill. Addressing the media with other conservative members of Congress, Labrador said he was encouraged by the ideas behind a budget plan set…

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Shea has telephone town hall tonight

Rep. Matt Shea will have telephone town hall session Wednesday evening which will give voters a chance to call in their questions about the current legislative session. The Spokane Valley Republican likened it to a radio call-in talk show, where voters from his 4th Legislative…

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State revenue up, but is it enough?

OLYMPIA – Revenue projections for the next two years suggest the state budget will grow by about $2 billion. That’s more than some legislators expected and more than enough to fuel the debate between Senate Republicans and House Democrats over spending cuts and tax increases.…

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TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

What should a pot shop be like?

OLYMPIA – Some time in the next year, Washington residents will be able to walk into a store and buy legal marijuana. Will that store be like Nordstrom, Wal-Mart or a mom and pop grocery? That question surfaced Tuesday in a legislative hearing, although it…

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City union loses Civil Service case

Ten workers who lost their jobs last year at the East Central Community will remain off the city payroll. The Spokane Civil Service Commission on Tuesday unanimously rejected a complaint from the union that represented the laid off workers. Local 270 of the Washington State…

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Shea has call-in Wednesday evening 

Rep. Matt Shea will have telephone town hall session Wednesday evening which will give voters a chance to call in their questions about the current legislative session. The Spokane Valley Republican likened it to a radio call-in talk show, where voters from his 4th Legislative…

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Spokane and others make pitch for STEM money

WASHINGTON — A group of education and industry professionals from Washington state offered U.S. lawmakers their suggestions to promote science, technology, education and math instruction Tuesday on Capitol Hill. The meeting, co-hosted by Washington STEM, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Sen. Patty Murray, focused on…

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MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013

Tax breaks don't change with the times

OLYMPIA -- The Legislature should take a look at tax breaks for insurance agents and travel agents, for high tech manufacturers and bio-tech manufacturers, for folks who load big ships and folks who catch certain kinds of fish, a House committee was told Monday. Some…

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Remembering Booth Gardner 

Booth Gardner seemed the most unlikely of gubernatorial candidates when he first hit the campaign trail as “Booth Who?” in 1984. Sure, he was the Pierce County executive and a former legislator, so he wasn’t a complete political novice. And he was a Weyerhaeuser heir,…

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SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2013


Legislative town halls today 

Spokane-area residents will have chances to ask their legislators what’s going on in Olympia at several town hall meetings today. Sen. Andy Billig, Reps. Timm Ormsby and Marcus Riccelli, all Democrats from central Spokane’s 3rd District, have a 10 a.m. meeting at Shadle Park High…

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The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.



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